I Love Music!

Do you love music?  I do!  When I was growing up my mom was our church organist.  We had an old pump organ (aka reed organ or harmonium) in our cellar for her to practice on!  You had to pump the pedals to make it work.  The pedals worked like bellows and pumped air through the reeds to make the sound.  We always argued who was going to pump the pedals!  We sang all the childhood classics to the wheezy sound of that old organ.

My childhood memories frequently involve music.  My mom loved show tunes.  She had a song for every occasion.  When she washed our hair, it was to “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair” from the musical “South Pacific.” 

While on road trips we took our shoes off in the car to be more comfy.  As we approached a rest stop, Mom sang, “Put Your Shoes on Lucy,” by Hank Fort.  That was our signal to get our shoes back on.

When we went camping, our fireside sing-alongs were a wonderful way to end each day.  We’d roast marshmallows and sometimes make some-mores.  Click HERE for the recipe.  My favorite campfire song is “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”  Sometimes we played “Name That Tune” and tried to guess a song in three notes or less.  Fireflies, glowing coals, and shooting stars—good times, good memories.

When I was about eight my favorite birthday gift was a book and record set of “Peter and the Wolf.”  It’s amazing how the different instruments can bring the characters to life!  To this day that music brings me right back to my childhood and the hours spent listening to that classic.

I took flute lessons through my school when I was in fourth grade.  This continued through sixth grade.  I was in the school bands:  elementary, junior high, and high school.  The band (or chorus) experience is not to be missed!  Ahh, band trips…a story for another day.  I still play my flute.  It’s in my classroom and I pull it out now and then to play for my students.  They learn the recorder in third grade.  I like to encourage them to continue it. 

My family enjoys “The Nutcracker” during the holiday season.  We like the dancers and costumes but most of all, we love the music!  The holidays don’t seem complete if we don’t get to see “The Nutcracker.”

Do you like music?  If you could take music lessons--voice or an instrument, what would you choose?  Leave me a comment.  I’d love to hear from you!

Healthy Snacking

Are you a picky eater?  New foods can be scary yet also exciting and summer is a perfect time to try some!  You can pretend you’re a scientist and the kitchen is your laboratory.  What new recipes can you invent?  You can pretend you’re a famous chef and your customers want new taste sensations.  Craft a menu and let your family “order” their snacks and meals.  If you have a brother or sister, get them to help by being a waiter.  You can even be an artist, “drawing” pictures with food and then eating your creations! Don’t forget to wash your hands before cooking and clean up any messes when you’re done!

Eating a variety of healthy foods during your school day is important and packing these foods properly is key.  Freeze a water bottle or 100% juice box to keep foods cold is handy.  At lunchtime the water or juice will be nice and refreshing!  Ever open your lunchbox only to find a flat sandwich?  There are some great reusable sandwich containers available.  As a bonus you’ll be recycling and helping save our planet!

The best time to plan/pack your food for your school day?  The night before.  This helps cut down on the morning frenzy.  I pack my food for the week in individual containers on Sunday night.  Then all I have to grab and go in the mornings during the week.

Fresh out of recipe ideas?  The internet is a wonderful resource.  Have a grownup help you find new recipes to try.  The Family Fun site is one of my favorite websites with lots of ideas for cooking and more! Also check out the Choose My Plate website for a mini poster:  “Kid Friendly Veggies and Fruits.”    Check out some cookbooks to help you get started. I found some great books HERE.

Happy sampling!  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Leave me a comment.  I’d love to hear from you!

Brian Lies Answers Questions from the Kids of Room 46

Brian Lies (pronounced “lees”) graciously answered the following questions from Emma, Gigi,  Hailey, Jackie and Vincent:

1) HAILEY, VINCENT: What inspired you to write [illustrate] in the first place?

BRIAN LIES: I've always liked making stuff, and making stuff up. Plus my older sister was always going to be a writer, so like a lot of kids, I wanted to do what she did. I also loved reading books, and the idea of maybe being able to make a REAL book which other people could read was magical.

2) GIGI: What did you want to be when you (grew up) were a kid?

BL: I ran through a lot of different things I wanted to be. Here's the list, more or less in order, for my whole life so far: Fireman. Astronaut. Chemist (my father worked in organic chemistry). Herpetologist (snake scientist). Palentologist. Actor. Writer. Clinical psychologist. Political cartoonist. Children's book author and illustrator.

3) GIGI: What do you like to do besides write [illustrate]?

BL: I think that maybe I like doing too many things! I like to garden. I build furniture, and work on my house. I bicycle. I cook. I read. I paint. I like to travel, when I can.

4) GIGI: What is the book you are most proud of?

BL: It's hard to say. But if I were really forced to choose, I'd have to go with BATS AT THE LIBRARY. I had a lot of fun with the book, and I really love libraries.

5) GIGI: What is your real name?

BL: Valbeersten von Weebleborgen. But since I was born, I've gone with Brian Lies (and it's pronounced "lees.") My last name, Lies, comes from a country called Luxembourg, and arrived in the U.S. with my great-great-great grandfather.

6) GIGI: Did you like school when you were younger?

BL: I liked most of school. I liked the challenge of learning. But I didn't like some of the other students, and a couple of my classes.

7) GIGI: What is your favorite color?

BL: Blue.

8) EMMA, GIGI: How many books have you written [illustrated]?

BL: I just finished illustrating my 25th book. Out of those 25, I also wrote 5 of them.

9) EMMA, GIGI: Who are your [favorite] characters?

BL: My favorite character in MY books is the little bat with the yellow floaties who's experiencing new things for the first time. In other people's books, some of my favorites are the main character from Jean Craighead George's "My Side of the Mountain," Hagrid from the Harry Potter books, and Wilbur, from "Charlotte's Web."

10) JACKIE: How many times on average do you rewrite a book before it is approved by an editor?

BL: A lot depends on the book. With my rhyming books, I go through 24-31 rewrites, trying to tweak the words so that they sound like someone talking instead of someone beating you over the head with rhyming words. Once I'm working with my editor, I may only rewrite a story two or three times.

Some great answers to other burning questions can be found on Brian’s website. Make sure you have a grownup with you when you “surf the web.”

Helmets and Safety

Do you like to ride a bike, scooter, roller blades or anything else with wheels?  How good of a “driver” are you?  Do you know the “rules of the road?”  That’s right, if you’re not obeying the traffic laws, you could get a ticket!

Every year children are injured while riding bikes, etc.  In most states if you’re under age 13 you MUST wear a helmet!  But more importantly, you must ride safely! 

Here are some other tips:

·        Make sure your bike is adjusted to fit you properly—a bike that is too big or too small can be dangerous!

·        Adjust your helmet correctly, too.  A helmet that is too loose can fly off in a crash and not protect you at all.

·        Never wear headphones/ear buds while biking, etc.  You really need to hear the traffic!

·        Don’t ride after dark.  It’s just not safe.

·        Always assume that the driver can’t see you or isn’t paying attention.  Chances are they can’t/aren’t!

·        Ride on bike trails and in bike lanes whenever possible.

Have fun and enjoy your ride but remember to be safe!  Do you have a favorite bike trail?  Leave me a comment—I’d love to hear from you!

Fun At the Shore

Have you ever been to the beach?  When my children were little we would go to the beach at Rocky Neck State Park in Connecticut.   It is a family friendly beach with very little waves.  My son Nick loved to dig holes in the sand.  We were always very careful not to let him dig too deep!  Sand is very unstable and we didn’t want him to get hurt!  Kate loved building sand castles.  She especially loved collecting shells to decorate her creations.

CATCHING CRITTERS 

Another fun thing to do at the beach is catch critters such as crabs and small fish, crayfish, butterflies, and the like.  We were always very careful to keep them only a short time before we gently set them free back where we caught them.  There’s nothing worse than seeing a stinky pile of dead creatures left behind by some thoughtless humans.  Please be respectful of our critter friends.

DIGGING IN THE SAND

Digging in the sand is always fun as you pretend you’re hunting for treasure!  However, if there’s a lot of trash at the beach, that’s no fun.  Do your part to keep the beach clean—don’t litter!

RUNNING IN THE SAND

Running in the sand is fun!  Kicking sand onto other people and/or their blankets is not!  Be considerate of others.  Think of personal space as you walk by their blankets and other belongings.

STINGS, BITES, AND SUNBURNS AREN’T FUN

There’s nothing worse than a sunburn after a long day at the beach—ouch!  Be sure to wear sunscreen and reapply it often!  Ask a grownup to help you.  If the bugs are biting, ask for some insect repellant.  Be sure to watch wear you walk—jelly fish stings hurt!

Enjoy your day at the beach!  Be safe.  Be smart.  Be respectful.

Doors of Fame

Yay!  Summer’s here!  Did you have a great school year?  Did you remember to write your teacher a thank you note?  If not, don’t worry—it’s not too late!  I once wrote a thank you to my second grade teacher—thirty years later!  She loved getting my note and even wrote back.

Teachers love getting letters from their students.  I get several emails a week from former students.  Did you know teachers even save these letters sometimes?  I do—they’re on the inside of my cabinet doors near my desk.  I call this my “Doors of Fame.”  I like to open the doors and reread them and remember wonderful times with wonderful students.

What should you say to your teacher in your note? 

·        You can start off by saying thank you for a wonderful school year. 

·        Then go on to mention a few specific things that your teacher did that made the year so great.  Did he make learning fun?  Were there lots of hands on activities?  Was there a favorite read aloud book that you enjoyed? 

·        The important thing is to let your teacher know exactly what you liked about the school year. 

·        You can include a drawing, if you wish, or a picture of you as a remembrance.

Go for it!  Write in your neatest handwriting and be sure to proofread!  (I recommend writing a draft first.)  Your final copy should be your ultimate best work.  After all, your note may end up on the “Doors of Fame!”

How to Get Smart(er)

Do you feel smart? Did you know you can train your brain to be smarter? There are some interesting sites on the Internet to get you started (be sure to have your grownup help you if you need it) Here’s one site that has the Stroop test on it! (http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html) It’s a test where you have to say the color that a word is printed in, not the color the word is spelling. It’s not as easy as you might think!

One of my favorite sites to practice math facts is http://studymaths.co.uk/games/beattheclock.html. It’s fun to try and beat the clock! The following link has some great math resources: http://www.homeschoolmath.net/online/. Check them out! It’s so much fun to learn your basic facts using the computer!

There is so much to learn about in this world—people, places, animals, inventions, you name it! The bottom line is that learning takes work/effort. If you want to get smarter, work harder! You’ll be glad you did!